Fruit-box



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. A. PRATT. & G. D. BROWN.

Fruit Box.

No. 242,365. Patented May 31,1881.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. A. PRATT. & 0. D. BROWN.

(No Model.)

Fruit Box.

-N0. 242,365. Patented May 31,1881.

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JEDEDIAH A. PRATT AND CHARLES D. BROWN, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

FRUIT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,365, dated May 31, 1881.

Application filed March I), 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JEDEDIAH A. PRATT and CHARLES D. BROWN, both citizens of Portland, residing at Portland, in the county ot'Cumberlaud and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit- Boxes; and we do hereby declare the followin g to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank for the box ready to be folded. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cover-blank ready to be folded. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the box made by folding the blank and securing it in place. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of the box folded, as in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, showing box and cover as in use. Fig.6 shows the cover-blank folded.

This invention relates to improvements in boxes for holding fruit, and similar uses.

In the accompanying drawings, A denotes a blank for the box, cut from any suitable flexible material. The upper and lower lines, 00 0c, of said blank are straight and parallel. The side lines, y y, deviate slightly from a right line, so that from side to side the greatest width is between lines z z, where the sides are parallel. The two diagonally-opposite corners b bare like each other, and so are the other two diagonally-opposite corners c 0 like each other. The corners b are cut out or nicked at the edges at b, so as to leave a latch-tongue, b while the corners c are slit at c, which forms the catch, into which said lock-tongue engages when the blank is foldedinto box shape for use, as will be presently explained. The blank is cut through on the single straight lines (I, so that when folded the corner-pieces will be free to lap about the sides of the box. Said blank is also grooved or marked on lines 0, so as to enable the blank to be readily folded along said lines into the desired shape.

If desired, ventilating-openings t t may be made in the parts of the blank which form the sides.

When the blank is thus made by machinery, or in any way, its parts can be quickly bent and folded upon each other, and the latch-tongue caught in the slit in the contiguous piece and the box, as shown in Fig. 4, produced. The

peculiarities ofthis latch-and-slit connection or look are, that by this means the two parts of the end can be easily and quickly united together, while the lock is so positive that no jar in transportatioi'i or handling, or by any ordinary accident, will serve to separate or disengage them.

To persons engaged in handling fruit, or such delicate articles as these boxes are used for, it is not necessary to emphasize the very peculiar and most valuable advantages thus secured by this feature in our device. bo, also, to manufacturers, it is not necessary to emphasize the value of the great saving of stock in cutting out or making this blank, as above set forth, while the readiness with which our blank can be folded into shape is a further proof of its great value. Likewise, the peculiar fold of our box, in addition to its locking feature, serves to produce a very strong box-a point of large importance in the use ofsuch devices.

The cover F is generally made of like material as the box and of the same width as the box-top, and is marked or grooved on each side atf, so that when bent along said lines the downward projections f shall be just long enough to fit into the space between the inside of the box and the lapped ends, as seen at h, Fig. 4, and thus the part over the box will just cover it. The addition of a cover notonly greatly strengthens the box, but enables the boxes to be piled one on the other for transportation when filled, and in a measure makes them water-tight.

In this case no claim is made on the box by itself, since that is the subject of another pending application filed by us.

Having thus described this invention, what is considered new and patenta-ble is The box herein described, made of blank A, and having a seat, It, for the cover between the parts making its ends, combined with the cover F, having portions resting in said seat h, substantially as set forth.

In testimon y whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

J EDEDIAH A. PRATT. CHAS. D. BROWN. 

